Brief Introduction
The Bantva Memon Jamat (Regd). Karachi, Established On June 2, 1950 (15 Shaban 1369 AH), Stands As The Largest And A Uniquely Significant Social, Welfare, Charitable, And Reform Organization Within The Memon Community. This Esteemed Congregation Holds A Prominent Position Across Various Sectors, From Commerce And Industry To Social Reform And Public Service. A Defining Characteristic Of The Memon Community Is Its Strong Sense Of Collective Identity, Embodied By The Bantva Memon Jamat.
Prior To The Creation Of Pakistan, The Bantva Memon Community, Despite Hailing From A Small, Underdeveloped City In Gujarat, India, Enjoyed A Remarkable Reputation In Trade And Industry Throughout India And Abroad. During That Era, The Community Thrived In An Atmosphere Of Brotherhood, With A Relatively Equitable Social And Economic Landscape. However, The Tranquility Was Disrupted By The Hindu-Muslim Riots In Dhan Nagri Bantva, Culminating In The Distressing Events Of November 16, 1947, Which Compelled The Memon Community To Migrate. Notably, Leading Figures Within The Bantva Community Had Actively Participated In The Freedom Movement.
Since Its Inception, The Bantva Memon Jamat (Regd). Karachi Has Undertaken Significant Initiatives. They Facilitate Job Placements Through The Participation Of Major Pakistani Companies, Assisting Unemployed Youth With Education And Qualifications. The Community Actively Raises Funds For The Needy By Collecting Sacrificial Animal Hides During Eid Al-Adha. Recognizing The Importance Of Print Media, The Jamat Launched The Monthly “Memon Samaj” In January 1956, Which Has Served As The Community’s House Journal, Disseminating News, Reports, And Preserving The Community’s History, Culture, And Introducing Its People, Especially The Younger Generation, To Its Goals. This Magazine’s Enduring Success Underscores Its Vital Role.
Furthermore, The Jamat Provides Substantial Monthly Financial Assistance To Troubled, Marginalized, And Needy Families, Enabling Them To Live With Dignity. The Progress Of The Bantva Memon Jamat (Regd). Karachi Is A Testament To The Dedication Of Its Donors, Social Leaders, And Workers Who Have Been Instrumental In Its Advancement. The Organization Has Implemented Progressive Rules And Regulations, Including Advocating Against Community Rituals, Mediating Domestic Disputes To Prevent Family Breakdowns, And Promoting Higher Education By Awarding Scholarships To Deserving And Needy Students In Various Educational Institutions. The Jamat Has Also Been At The Forefront Of Providing Aid To Families Affected By Crises In Areas Like Lyari Town, Moosa Lane, And Kharadar. Within The Broader Memon Community, Welfare And Charitable Endeavors Are Highly Regarded, And The Tireless Efforts Of The Bantva Memon Jamat Have Propelled Its Continuous Development. For The Past 84 Years, The Bantva Memon (Regd). Karachi Has Dedicated Itself To Serving The Bantva Community, Holding A Leading Position Among Service And Social Organizations By Offering Financial Support To The Poor, Providing Residential Facilities To The Pious And Backward, And Granting Educational Scholarships To Deserving Students To Foster Their Academic Pursuits And Elevate The Community’s Standing.
Brief Introduction of Founders
Haji Habib Peer Muhammad
Haji Habib Pir Muhammad, Born In Bantva In 1895, Stood As One Of The Three Preeminent Memon Business Figures Hailing From The Region, With Extensive Commercial Interests Spanning Across India. Despite The Early Loss Of His Father Preventing Him From Completing Even Primary Education And Necessitating His Early Entry Into The Family’s Widespread Business, Haji Habib Ascended To Become A Leading Businessman Renowned Not Only For His Wealth But Also For His Exceptional Public Service And Unparalleled Generosity. His Contributions To Education And Healthcare Through Substantial Donations Rivaled Those Of The Foremost Philanthropists Of His Time. Notably, Upon Learning Of The Hardships Faced By Refugees Departing India, He Instructed The British India Steamship Company, A Major Business Partner, To Directly Charge His Personal Account For The Passage Of Those Bound For Karachi Who Lacked The Financial Means. Furthermore, He Organized Ample Provisions At All Departure Points From India To Karachi. An Acknowledged Authority And Virtually Unmatched “King Of Food Grains,” His Expertise In This Sector Was Widely Recognized. It Is Recounted That The Government Of India, Through Its Inaugural High Commissioner To Pakistan, Conveyed A Message Expressing Their Desire For His Return To India To Resume His Food Grain Business. However, Haji Habib Chose To Remain In Pakistan.
Seth Hussain Qassim Dada
Born In Bantva In 1867, Hussain Received His Early Education, Completing The Gujarati Seventh Standard, After Starting School At The Age Of Nine. His Father’s Small Stationery Shop Provided The Initial Backdrop To His Life. Young Hussain Began His Career As A Teacher In Bantva, Earning A Modest Rs. 3 Per Month. Within A Year, His Capabilities Led Him To A Position As An Acting Headmaster In Another Village, Where His Salary Increased To Rs. 12 Monthly.
In 1894, A New Opportunity Took Him To Various Towns In South India, Ultimately Leading Him To Work For Suleman Kasim Mitha In Tell Cherry, Where He Sold Salt On His Employer’s Behalf. Gaining Experience Under Mitha, Hussain Decided To Embark On His Own Venture In The Same Trade And Location, Securing A Loan From His Former Employer. Fortune Favored Him, And In His Inaugural Year, He Achieved A Remarkable Profit Of Rs. 3,000. Subsequently, He Strategically Expanded His Salt Business Across The Towns Of Kerala State. His Success Was Underpinned By Prudent Low Expenses, Diligent Hard Work, A Strategy Of Low Profit Margins, And A High Volume Of Turnover.
His Initial Success Paved The Way For Further Expansion Into Numerous Locations Across India, Burma, Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka), French Indo-China (Now Vietnam, Laos, And Cambodia), Singapore, And Siam (Now Thailand). By This Time, He Had Transformed Into A Prosperous And Well-Regarded Businessman, Trading In A Diverse Range Of Commodities, Including Food Grains, Cotton Yarn, Jute, And Related Items. Now Widely Known As Hussain Seth, He Relocated His Head Office To Bantva.
With Established Business Success, Hussain Seth Began Dedicating His Time To Community Service. Possessing A Keen Eye For Architectural Design, Considering Factors Like Wind Direction And Natural Light, He Oversaw The Construction Of Numerous Buildings Within His Family’s Estate. He Assumed The Role Of Chairman Of The Reception Committee For The Inaugural Memon Conference Held In Rajkot, Hosting Prominent British Dignitaries, Ruling Princes, And Even Quaid-E-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah As A Guest In His Home.
Upon Moving To Pakistan At The Age Of Eighty, He Continued His Entrepreneurial Spirit By Purchasing New Properties And Establishing A Family Trust. His Passion For Building Design And Construction Supervision Remained Evident As He Created Suitable Homes For His Family Members. Demonstrating A Deep Compassion For Orphans, He Established An Orphanage In Karachi, Endowing It With A Special Trust Fund Of One Million Rupees.
A Particularly Noteworthy And Exemplary Act, Albeit A Challenging One To Emulate, Occurred When, Despite His Properties In India Being Seized By The Indian Government Under Evacuee Laws, He Received An Income Tax Demand For Rs. 5 Million. True To His Memon Heritage And Integrity, This Remarkable Man Arranged For The Full Payment Of This Amount To The Indian Government. Indeed, Mr. Dada Was A Truly Exceptional Memon.
Haji Adam Haji Peer Muhammad Ishaq
Before The 1947 Partition Of The Indian Subcontinent, The Remarkable Traders Of Bantva Achieved Rapid Progress Within A Mere 50 Years, And The Land Of Bantva Produced Numerous Extraordinary Individuals. Among These, Haji Adam Pir Mohammad Jangda Undoubtedly Ranks In The Foremost Echelon.
Born Into The Household Of Ishaq In Bantva, Pir Mohammad Was A Man Of Modest Means And Social Standing, Engaged In The Grain And Cotton Trade Within Bantva. His Son, Adam, Was Born In 1881. After Completing Only Three Or Four Gujarati Primary School Grades, Adam Began Working In His Father’s Shop During His Boyhood, Gaining Invaluable Experience In Trade. Possessing An Adventurous Spirit And A Yearning To Achieve Something Exceptional, He Was Inspired By Information From His Brokers Who Had Ventured Abroad. Their Encouragement And Persuasion Led To His Decision To Seek Opportunities Overseas.
He Initiated His Business In Hubli On A Small Scale, Dealing In Grain, Groceries, And Oil. Through His Unwavering Determination, Diligent Hard Work, And Inherent Aptitude For Trade, He Swiftly Attained His Goals. Capitalizing On Favorable Circumstances, He Began Establishing Branches Of His Firm In New Cities And Towns, Achieving Significant Success By 1910.
Haji Adam Pir Mohammad Jangda Also Held A Prominent Position In The Political Movements Of The Time. When Quaid-E-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, The Founder Of Pakistan, Visited Bantva To Raise Funds For The Muslim League Press Fund, Haji Adam Pir Mohammad Jangda Emerged As A Major Donor. He Served As The President Of The Reception Committee For The Significant And Historic Meeting Held In Bantva. During This Public Gathering, He Delivered A Deeply Emotional Welcome Address, Assuring Quaid-E-Azam Of The Unwavering Support Of The People Of Bantva. This Declaration Remained Etched In The Memory Of Jinnah Sahib. Eight Years Later, At A Meeting In Karachi, Pakistan, For The Laying Of The Foundation Stone Of Karachi’s First Industry, Bengal Oil Mills, Adam Seth Had The Opportunity To Meet Jinnah Sahib Once Again, Who Was Then The First Governor-General Of Pakistan.
Jinnah Sahib Greeted Adam Seth With Great Warmth And Expressed His Sincere Gratitude, Recalling His Earlier Words. It Is A Historical Fact That The Residents Of Bantva Migrated To Pakistan, Sacrificing Their Possessions And Making Substantial Donations At The Nascent Stage Of Pakistan To Contribute To Its Economic Independence.
Haji Adam Pir Mohammad Jangda Also Actively Participated In Local Affairs In Bantva With Great Enthusiasm And Fervor. He Played A Vital And Dynamic Role In The Establishment Of The Jamat Khana Management, Madrasah-E-Islamia, And An Orphanage. His Contribution To The Construction Of The Jama Masjid Was Particularly Significant. Furthermore, His Donation Towards The Urban Development Of Bantva Was Substantial And Remains Memorable.
He Constructed Impressive Buildings Named After Steamer Lines In The Pool And Gutter Areas. Additionally, He Owned Numerous Buildings And Properties In Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Madras, Colombo, Rangoon, And Other Cities And Towns. In 1942, An Explosion Of Explosive Material On A Steamer In Bombay Led To A Fire That Spread To The Sugar Bazaar And Engulfed The Godowns Of Haji Adam Seth. Due To His Courageous, Formidable, And Respected Personality, He Wielded Considerable Influence Within The Jamat And Was Held In High Esteem. All Citizens Of Bantva Revered Him And Bestowed Honor And Dignity Upon Him. He Had Been An Active And Effective Member Of The Jamat Since 1922 And Became An Active Member Of Its Special Committee In 1929.
When The Muslims Of Bantva Began Migrating In November 1947, He Extended His Assistance In Every Possible Way And Was Among The Last To Migrate. Hussain Seth, Adam Seth, And Habib Seth Diligently Brought The Valuables Entrusted To Their Care, As Well As The Remaining Records From Bantva, To Karachi. They Scrupulously Returned All Entrusted Items To Their Rightful Owners, With Not A Single Complaint Of Any Breach Of Trust.
Upon The Establishment Of The Bantva Memon Jamat Anew In Karachi In 1950, Adam Seth Was Appointed As Its Vice President, And In 1957, He Was Nominated As One Of Its Seven Presidents.